A priest is dying. On his deathbed, he asks to see a property developer and a lawyer. Both of them arrive timely to see him. “We are very touched that you remember us at the end of your journey.” They tell the priest. The priest gasps, holding tightly the hands of the developer and the lawyer. “All my life I’ve been following the footsteps of my Lord. And I want … [Read more...]
How to read a new launch brochure
The following article is an excerpt from my book No B.S. Guide to Property Investment, a bestseller at Kinokuniya and Times bookstores. In 2002, I went for a flat viewing in a commercial and residential mixed development off Balestier Road. It was a three-bedroom apartment, nicely renovated and very well-kept. But I could easily tell why the owner had difficulty selling it, … [Read more...]
Do home buyers know what they are buying?
Money can buy you a new apartment or a big house. But it can’t buy you discernment and wisdom. Being a property enthusiast, I have stepped into a hundred showflats and gone to hundreds of flat/house viewings. I am often surprised by all the wrong types of landed houses, private projects and condominium units that home owners bought. Trust me, all of them have nothing to … [Read more...]
3 tips to master the art of asking for property advice
At the Invest Carnival 'Meet The Investment Bloggers' session held last Sunday, there was a question for me from the audience during panel discussion. Someone asked what I do with my money after selling four properties. It sounds like how the media interview the lucky winners after they win the lottery or the Changi Millionaire contest. Unlike a windfall from hitting a … [Read more...]
The secret of profiting from old houses
The following is an abstract from my book No B.S. Guide to Property Investment, currently in its third print after it was first published nine months ago. How a property plastic surgeon makes his fortune My neighbor Sam runs his own family business that specializes in additions and alterations work for old houses. Apart from his business, Sam also has a flair for property … [Read more...]